Since last September there has been a lot of doom and gloom talk in the news. TV news, newspapers and countless sources on the Internet have told us our jobs and money aren’t safe, banks are failing, those same banks and auto manufacturers are getting government money so they don’t go out of business, no one can get a loan, credit cards interest rates and fees are skyrocketing, foreclosures are through the roof…in fact, they say that things haven’t been this bad since the Great Depression. There is no doubt that the situation is not good…you or someone you know has probably been directly effected by the economic downturn. Millions have been laid off, lost their benefits, had their hours cut…others have lost their houses, are underwater on their mortgages or have fallen behind on their bills. All of this has created a vicious cycle that feeds on itself. The worse it gets, the worse we feel, the worse it gets, etc. etc. etc.
I’m amazed at some of the news out there…how far people will go to get what they want…which is usually money or power…Bernie Madoff stole billions in a ponzi scheme and left his clients penniless, about how CEOs are getting their multi-million dollar golden parachutes, about how the stock market is down in part because of hedge funds (those that make money by driving down certain stock prices), about how companies are laying off millions of employees (though some would argue that many don’t really need to and are using the current chaos as an excuse to dramatically cut expenses) and generally about how those that have are taking advantage of those that don’t. Frankly, it’s pretty depressing.
So you’re probably wondering what’s the point? Well, I was just looking for an excuse to talk about ME.
I’m amazed at some of the news out there…how far people will go to get what they want…which is usually money or power…Bernie Madoff stole billions in a ponzi scheme and left his clients penniless, about how CEOs are getting their multi-million dollar golden parachutes, about how the stock market is down in part because of hedge funds (those that make money by driving down certain stock prices), about how companies are laying off millions of employees (though some would argue that many don’t really need to and are using the current chaos as an excuse to dramatically cut expenses) and generally about how those that have are taking advantage of those that don’t. Frankly, it’s pretty depressing.
So you’re probably wondering what’s the point? Well, I was just looking for an excuse to talk about ME.
Actually, that’s not what I mean. What I really want to talk about is “ME”. ME is one of the underlying reasons why all of these things happened. In the world (going all the way back to the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge) we have been encouraged to put “me” first. The 80s were “ME” decade and for whatever reason that wasn’t considered a bad thing. We are told from a very young age that we are supposed to do what is best for us, buy what we need to be happy and avoid anything that might not pleasant. Nowhere is this more obvious than in advertising.
Whether we like it or not we currently live in a society where it’s about me getting ahead, about me getting rich, about me acquiring possessions, about me being happy…rarely are we encouraged to do otherwise and rarely are we told to think about how our actions might hurt or somehow adversely effect others.
In this country and in this society we are rewarded for taking risks and even at times stepping on or over people to get to the top. It’s easy to get sucked in….that’s what happened to those people we read about in the news. These individuals were thinking about “ME” and likely never considered, at least seriously, whether they were doing “what’s best for society” or “what’s best those around me”. It was about what best for me.
Working in corporate America, I personally have found myself falling into this same trap. Though I’ve never had bad intentions, I often don’t spend enough time thinking about how my actions will affect others, whether positively or adversely.
In today’s economic environment and culture the concept of “me” is amplified. People aren’t now just trying to get ahead they are trying to survive. Times are tough, we’re trying to keep our jobs and make our dollars stretch. So, it’s easier than ever to think about ourselves rather than those around us.
How often do you think about how your actions impact others? I’d like to challenge each of you to consciously think about how what you say and do is good or bad for those around you…your family, your friends, your co-workers or classmates and others you meet each and every day…whether they be on a bus, at the grocery store, doctor’s office or gas station.
So, why am I talking about this today? I think that God has a lot to say on the subject.
The idea for this sermon first popped into my head a couple weeks ago in a Las Vegas hotel room at 5:30am. Sin city….what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. I was awakened by a phone call at that hour from someone in Miami (that will remain unnamed) that didn’t know I was in Las Vegas for work. Anyway, I was unable to go back to sleep and so I lay in bed staring at the ceiling….thinking about how much I missed Patricia and the kids, whether I should try to wrap things up and try to move up my flight so I could get home a day earlier, all of the things I had to do the next day and how much I really wanted to go back to sleep.
That morning, with the rising sun peaking through the curtains of the hotel room, my thoughts kept coming back to “whether or not I was being a good Christian and someone who truly tries (though I don’t always succeed) to follow the example Christ has set for all of us”. Do I treat people the right way? Do I put the interests of God and others ahead of myself?
Why did this come to mind at such a strange time? I guess for two reasons.
First, I have been having a running debate on Facebook with an old high school friend about religion, what is means to be a Christian and what role our faith should play in politics. Yes, I mixed two of the topics we are told to avoid discussing….religion and politics but I just can’t resist. I love controversy. These debates go back to late last summer and though we are both Mennonites we have distinctly different perspectives on what it means to be a Christian and a Mennonite. Though we do get frustrated with each other from time to time, it has been a very healthy debate that has really got the gears in my head going. Overall, it’s really got me thinking about whether or not I’m doing everything I can to live my life by the example Jesus set for us. I think I fall short but that’s okay as long as I strive to be the best Christian I can.
Second, as in most companies, there has been a lot going on at my work. Many of you could probably share stories that would be very similar to mine…internal politics, layoffs, re-orgs, etc. etc. etc. The thing that got me thinking that morning in Las Vegas was the announcement of an organizational change that didn’t seem to make much sense to me and seemed very self serving for those that made the decision…I wondered if what was best for me ever entered their minds. I tried to put myself in the shoes of those involved. What would have I done? The allure of greater authority/power, the desire to keep one’s jobs and advancement possibilities are all very tempting. Ambivalence and self-preservation keep some from interfering. I’m not sure what I would have done but if I’m honest with myself I have to believe that I wouldn’t have done the same. I would have been more concerned with my own welfare that that of others involved or impacted.
So, what’s my point?
I believe the Bible gives us pretty clear instructions on how to treat others…. that everything happens for a reason….that God in his ultimate wisdom has and always will do what’s best for us and take care of us… and that we should always put God’s will and the wellbeing of others ahead of our own.
Let’s dissect this a bit.
Everything that happens is part of God’s plan…
In Proverbs 19:21 God says that “Many are the plan’s in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
In Isaiah 30:1 God is a bit harsh when he says, “Woe! to the obstinate children, declares the Lord, ‘to those that carry out plans that are not mine’.”
First of all, you have to listen when God says “Whoa!” with an exclamation point. There are many other verses that refer to God’s plan or plans. They sometimes conflict with our plans or what we think is best and every time God’s people go against his will it never turns out good. So, if we are to do God’s will then we need to follow his plan.
God will take care of us….
In Matthew 6:25-33 God tells us not to worry when he says 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Whether we like it or not we currently live in a society where it’s about me getting ahead, about me getting rich, about me acquiring possessions, about me being happy…rarely are we encouraged to do otherwise and rarely are we told to think about how our actions might hurt or somehow adversely effect others.
In this country and in this society we are rewarded for taking risks and even at times stepping on or over people to get to the top. It’s easy to get sucked in….that’s what happened to those people we read about in the news. These individuals were thinking about “ME” and likely never considered, at least seriously, whether they were doing “what’s best for society” or “what’s best those around me”. It was about what best for me.
Working in corporate America, I personally have found myself falling into this same trap. Though I’ve never had bad intentions, I often don’t spend enough time thinking about how my actions will affect others, whether positively or adversely.
In today’s economic environment and culture the concept of “me” is amplified. People aren’t now just trying to get ahead they are trying to survive. Times are tough, we’re trying to keep our jobs and make our dollars stretch. So, it’s easier than ever to think about ourselves rather than those around us.
How often do you think about how your actions impact others? I’d like to challenge each of you to consciously think about how what you say and do is good or bad for those around you…your family, your friends, your co-workers or classmates and others you meet each and every day…whether they be on a bus, at the grocery store, doctor’s office or gas station.
So, why am I talking about this today? I think that God has a lot to say on the subject.
The idea for this sermon first popped into my head a couple weeks ago in a Las Vegas hotel room at 5:30am. Sin city….what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. I was awakened by a phone call at that hour from someone in Miami (that will remain unnamed) that didn’t know I was in Las Vegas for work. Anyway, I was unable to go back to sleep and so I lay in bed staring at the ceiling….thinking about how much I missed Patricia and the kids, whether I should try to wrap things up and try to move up my flight so I could get home a day earlier, all of the things I had to do the next day and how much I really wanted to go back to sleep.
That morning, with the rising sun peaking through the curtains of the hotel room, my thoughts kept coming back to “whether or not I was being a good Christian and someone who truly tries (though I don’t always succeed) to follow the example Christ has set for all of us”. Do I treat people the right way? Do I put the interests of God and others ahead of myself?
Why did this come to mind at such a strange time? I guess for two reasons.
First, I have been having a running debate on Facebook with an old high school friend about religion, what is means to be a Christian and what role our faith should play in politics. Yes, I mixed two of the topics we are told to avoid discussing….religion and politics but I just can’t resist. I love controversy. These debates go back to late last summer and though we are both Mennonites we have distinctly different perspectives on what it means to be a Christian and a Mennonite. Though we do get frustrated with each other from time to time, it has been a very healthy debate that has really got the gears in my head going. Overall, it’s really got me thinking about whether or not I’m doing everything I can to live my life by the example Jesus set for us. I think I fall short but that’s okay as long as I strive to be the best Christian I can.
Second, as in most companies, there has been a lot going on at my work. Many of you could probably share stories that would be very similar to mine…internal politics, layoffs, re-orgs, etc. etc. etc. The thing that got me thinking that morning in Las Vegas was the announcement of an organizational change that didn’t seem to make much sense to me and seemed very self serving for those that made the decision…I wondered if what was best for me ever entered their minds. I tried to put myself in the shoes of those involved. What would have I done? The allure of greater authority/power, the desire to keep one’s jobs and advancement possibilities are all very tempting. Ambivalence and self-preservation keep some from interfering. I’m not sure what I would have done but if I’m honest with myself I have to believe that I wouldn’t have done the same. I would have been more concerned with my own welfare that that of others involved or impacted.
So, what’s my point?
I believe the Bible gives us pretty clear instructions on how to treat others…. that everything happens for a reason….that God in his ultimate wisdom has and always will do what’s best for us and take care of us… and that we should always put God’s will and the wellbeing of others ahead of our own.
Let’s dissect this a bit.
Everything that happens is part of God’s plan…
In Proverbs 19:21 God says that “Many are the plan’s in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
In Isaiah 30:1 God is a bit harsh when he says, “Woe! to the obstinate children, declares the Lord, ‘to those that carry out plans that are not mine’.”
First of all, you have to listen when God says “Whoa!” with an exclamation point. There are many other verses that refer to God’s plan or plans. They sometimes conflict with our plans or what we think is best and every time God’s people go against his will it never turns out good. So, if we are to do God’s will then we need to follow his plan.
God will take care of us….
In Matthew 6:25-33 God tells us not to worry when he says 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
In verses 32 and 33…Pagans run after these things….worry about and pursue materials things. God knows what we need and will provide those things, not what we think we need, if we seek to follow him and do his will. This is what those in the news got caught in. They put their own desires ahead of others’ and it came back to get them.
Who watches “My Name is Earl”? It’s about who won the lottery and proceeded to get hit by a car as he left the convenience store, just as he realizes that he won a lot of money. It the process of getting hit he loses the ticket. He believes that even good fortune eludes him because he has wronged a lot of people. So, he proceeds to create a list of those people and systematically goes through it in an attempt to do right by all those people. He believes it’s about karma is the reason for his ills. What he finds is that his life is better and he feels good about himself when he does something nice for someone else. Why is this, I don’t think it’s karma…he finds it rewarding to make others happy but putting them ahead of himself.
So, we should always put God’s will and the wellbeing of others ahead of our own….
One of the most quoted scriptures in the Bible comes from Luke 6:31 “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” We all know this verse and it’s one of the first we memorize in Sunday School as children….but it’s also one of the most difficult instructions to follow. The Golden Rule instructs us to consciously and proactively think about how our words and actions affect others. We can not allow ourselves to put ourselves ahead of others. We can not put our interests ahead of the interests of others and, more importantly, ahead of the interests of God. How well do we really follow the Golden Rule?
The Mennonite Church thought this idea, the Golden Rule, central enough to include it in the Confession of Faith.
In Article 17 entitled Discipleship and the Christian Life, it says that Conformity to Christ necessarily implies nonconformity to the world. True faith in Christ means willingness to do the will of God, rather than willful pursuit of individual happiness. True faith means seeking first the reign of God in simplicity, rather than pursuing materialism.
Let’s start with the second sentence….
True faith in Christ means willingness to do the will of God, rather than willful pursuit of individual happiness.
Why is this so important?
Because we can not be faithful Christians unless we follow the example God set for us.
It states in earlier in the Confession of Faith that we, as Mennonites, “the church, the body of Christ, is called to become more like Jesus Christ, its head, in its worship, ministry, witness, mutual love and care, and the ordering of its common life.”
What does it mean to become more like Jesus Christ? Let’s think about it this way….There are countless examples in the New Testament where Jesus did things that were not popular or culturally accepted and he often did things that put him in physical danger….but he never wavered. He always did what he could to advance the kingdom of God and fulfill the prophesy outlined in the Old Testament.
In fact, Jesus practiced what he….pardon the pun…preached right up to the end when in Matthew 26:39 he said “39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
So, why have so many failed? Many believe that once we accept Christ and are baptized that all of the hard work is done. I would challenge you to think of your acceptance of Jesus as your savior as the beginning and the moment when all the hard work actually starts. It’s not easy to be a good Christian live as Jesus did.
I don’t think that we have to sacrifice our own happiness in order to do the will of God. They are not mutually exclusive. To the contrary, we can find happiness in doing the will of God. We have to trust God and leave it in his hands.
Again, this is not easy but there are some things we can do to make it a bit easier. Let’s go back to the excerpt from the Mennonite Confession of Faith.
Conformity to Christ necessarily implies nonconformity to the world.
True faith means seeking first the reign of God in simplicity, rather than pursuing materialism.
Why are conformity and materialism included in the same breath as “doing God’s will”? I think it’s because when we conform to our “me” society and seek to gather possessions we want but don’t necessarily need it becomes much harder to do God’s will and treat others in the way God would like us to. Let me clarify, I don’t think God ever said that we shouldn’t have things that make us happy and I don’t really want to talk this morning about how many things it’s okay to have….that’s something you need to work out with God. Rather, I’d just like to reinforce the fact that the pursuit of or desire for those things can take you off the rails.
Thoughts like “I’d really like to have what he/she has” can be very self serving and make it much harder for us to do God’s will.
I believe that God wants us to live “in the world but not of it”…not in the way that the Amish do but I do believe that he wants us to avoid trying to keep up with the Joneses. If we do this it’s much easier to live like Christ.
I have personally found the desire to gather possessions and pursue power…stuff that really won’t increase my chances of achieving eternal life but that is nonetheless really tempting. I’m not saying it’s bad to have “things”…where we run into trouble is when we get caught up in the pursuit of these things. When you get caught in that merry-go-round, it’s hard to get off because it doesn’t stop. This is the merry-go-round that people like Bernie Madoff, the hedge fund managers, CEOs and those that involved in shady mortgages got stuck on. Once on that ride, it was hard to jump off. It became about “ME”.
In Romans 12:1-2, Paul challenges the early church to not make it about “ME” when he said, “1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Paul challenges us to give ourselves to God’s which is good, pleasing and perfect. It’s not about what I want, it’s about what God wants for me.
I want to challenge each of you to consciously in the coming days to think about how your words and actions affect those around you. Take a minute to think not only about “ME” each time you make a decision. I think you’ll find it enlightening….and more importantly you will be playing a small but important part in making the world a better place…the kind of place that God envisions. After all, my will…or yours for that matter….is not important…because if we do God’s will he will take care of us.
Who watches “My Name is Earl”? It’s about who won the lottery and proceeded to get hit by a car as he left the convenience store, just as he realizes that he won a lot of money. It the process of getting hit he loses the ticket. He believes that even good fortune eludes him because he has wronged a lot of people. So, he proceeds to create a list of those people and systematically goes through it in an attempt to do right by all those people. He believes it’s about karma is the reason for his ills. What he finds is that his life is better and he feels good about himself when he does something nice for someone else. Why is this, I don’t think it’s karma…he finds it rewarding to make others happy but putting them ahead of himself.
So, we should always put God’s will and the wellbeing of others ahead of our own….
One of the most quoted scriptures in the Bible comes from Luke 6:31 “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” We all know this verse and it’s one of the first we memorize in Sunday School as children….but it’s also one of the most difficult instructions to follow. The Golden Rule instructs us to consciously and proactively think about how our words and actions affect others. We can not allow ourselves to put ourselves ahead of others. We can not put our interests ahead of the interests of others and, more importantly, ahead of the interests of God. How well do we really follow the Golden Rule?
The Mennonite Church thought this idea, the Golden Rule, central enough to include it in the Confession of Faith.
In Article 17 entitled Discipleship and the Christian Life, it says that Conformity to Christ necessarily implies nonconformity to the world. True faith in Christ means willingness to do the will of God, rather than willful pursuit of individual happiness. True faith means seeking first the reign of God in simplicity, rather than pursuing materialism.
Let’s start with the second sentence….
True faith in Christ means willingness to do the will of God, rather than willful pursuit of individual happiness.
Why is this so important?
Because we can not be faithful Christians unless we follow the example God set for us.
It states in earlier in the Confession of Faith that we, as Mennonites, “the church, the body of Christ, is called to become more like Jesus Christ, its head, in its worship, ministry, witness, mutual love and care, and the ordering of its common life.”
What does it mean to become more like Jesus Christ? Let’s think about it this way….There are countless examples in the New Testament where Jesus did things that were not popular or culturally accepted and he often did things that put him in physical danger….but he never wavered. He always did what he could to advance the kingdom of God and fulfill the prophesy outlined in the Old Testament.
In fact, Jesus practiced what he….pardon the pun…preached right up to the end when in Matthew 26:39 he said “39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
So, why have so many failed? Many believe that once we accept Christ and are baptized that all of the hard work is done. I would challenge you to think of your acceptance of Jesus as your savior as the beginning and the moment when all the hard work actually starts. It’s not easy to be a good Christian live as Jesus did.
I don’t think that we have to sacrifice our own happiness in order to do the will of God. They are not mutually exclusive. To the contrary, we can find happiness in doing the will of God. We have to trust God and leave it in his hands.
Again, this is not easy but there are some things we can do to make it a bit easier. Let’s go back to the excerpt from the Mennonite Confession of Faith.
Conformity to Christ necessarily implies nonconformity to the world.
True faith means seeking first the reign of God in simplicity, rather than pursuing materialism.
Why are conformity and materialism included in the same breath as “doing God’s will”? I think it’s because when we conform to our “me” society and seek to gather possessions we want but don’t necessarily need it becomes much harder to do God’s will and treat others in the way God would like us to. Let me clarify, I don’t think God ever said that we shouldn’t have things that make us happy and I don’t really want to talk this morning about how many things it’s okay to have….that’s something you need to work out with God. Rather, I’d just like to reinforce the fact that the pursuit of or desire for those things can take you off the rails.
Thoughts like “I’d really like to have what he/she has” can be very self serving and make it much harder for us to do God’s will.
I believe that God wants us to live “in the world but not of it”…not in the way that the Amish do but I do believe that he wants us to avoid trying to keep up with the Joneses. If we do this it’s much easier to live like Christ.
I have personally found the desire to gather possessions and pursue power…stuff that really won’t increase my chances of achieving eternal life but that is nonetheless really tempting. I’m not saying it’s bad to have “things”…where we run into trouble is when we get caught up in the pursuit of these things. When you get caught in that merry-go-round, it’s hard to get off because it doesn’t stop. This is the merry-go-round that people like Bernie Madoff, the hedge fund managers, CEOs and those that involved in shady mortgages got stuck on. Once on that ride, it was hard to jump off. It became about “ME”.
In Romans 12:1-2, Paul challenges the early church to not make it about “ME” when he said, “1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Paul challenges us to give ourselves to God’s which is good, pleasing and perfect. It’s not about what I want, it’s about what God wants for me.
I want to challenge each of you to consciously in the coming days to think about how your words and actions affect those around you. Take a minute to think not only about “ME” each time you make a decision. I think you’ll find it enlightening….and more importantly you will be playing a small but important part in making the world a better place…the kind of place that God envisions. After all, my will…or yours for that matter….is not important…because if we do God’s will he will take care of us.
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